Listening to the Rabbi in Krakow

Outside Shindler's Factory

We spent the last 2 days of our trip of Poland in Krakow continuing to learn more about Jewish life in Poland and the Holocaust.  Wednesday we visited a mass grave outside of Krakow for hundreds of children that were killed in the town.  The kids had an opportunity to write letters to their parents about the experience that they will give to them when they arrive home.  The rest of the morning was spent exploring Krakow and discussing what Jewish life was like before and after the war. After lunch we headed off to Aushwitz I to view the concentration camp and learn more about the Holocaust.  At Aushwitz we had the privilege of having a renowned Holocaust scholar lead our tour.  We ended our tour at Aushwitz with a ceremony to remember the lives lost there.  Being in a place that was so well known to all of us and the kids was difficult to handle and after dinner that evening we spent some time in smaller groups talking and processing what we had seen and experienced.  Thursday we started our day very early with a visit to Berkeanu, the death camp to Aushwitz.  Here our tour guide led us through the camp and told stories of experiences that had occurred there.  Around noon we all hopped back on the bus and drove to the Warsaw airport to head to Tel Aviv.  While our journey through Poland was overwhelming at times the kids all talked about how it was interesting to have firsthand experience seeing the places they had learned so much about in Hebrew School. 

Atop Mt. Scopus on our first morning in Israel

Overlooking Jerusalem

After many hours of traveling we all arrived in Israel and are finishing our first Shabbat in Jerusalem.  Straight after arriving in Tel Aviv we watched the sunrise over Jerusalem and had our first view of the city.  We also welcomed two Israeli counselors who will be joining us for the trip, Netanel & Michal as well as our security guard/medic, Mor. Additionally we were glad to have Noah Jackson join us as well. After resting we had a great Israeli lunch and then headed out for a short hike through the Jerusalem hills.  There was a natural pool part way through the hike that many of the boys took the opportunity to cool down and swim in the water. Back at the Hostel we prepared for our first Shabbat and headed off to the Jewish Quarter in Jerusalem.  We had services as a Micah community overlooking the Kotel.  It was a warm welcome home to Israel and a great way to start our trip.

First Shabbat in Jerusalem.

Shabbat

For our first Shabbat the kids have spent much of the day getting the opportunity to relax and catch up on some sleep after a whirlwind few days in Poland. For services we visited two shuls in Jerusalem to view different types of services.  First we were at the Great Synagogue of Jerusalem and then a Chassidic shul.  The kids got the chance to experience other types of Judaism that they may not have known much about before.  After lunch and some singing all of the counselors talked a little bit about themselves and then opened it up to questions from the kids.  After some rest we met with Elana Heideman, a Holocaust educator getting her PhD under Ellie Wiesel.  She is an expert in the Shoah, anti-Semitism and Holocaust Denial.  She led a session to help process our Poland experience especially how it relates to being in Israel for the summer.  All of the kids and counselors are so very excited to be in Israel and are looking forward to the next 5 weeks of our trip. 

Amanda & Noah